December 22 Run/Walk: Meet at the Wm. Penn lobby for the annual Dahntahn Holiday Run

We'll go back to the William Penn Hotel Lobby, (map) dear to our hearts, to start our annual appreciation of holiday extravagance in our fair city. 

Last week was.a delightful scamper through Allegheny Commons Park and environs.  Tasteful holiday decor in the Mexican War Streets, a historic garden, Lake Elizabeth slightly frozen over, the condors at the Aviary and a rundown from Tracy who works there, George W. on his horse, and then a cozy gathering at Yinz Coffee, which we hope will survive the encroachment of bigshot Starbucks across the street.  So much to discuss.

• Uncommon holiday movies:  The Holiday Movie, It's Complicated, Something's Got to Give, Love Actually. 
• And old movies:  Meet John Doe, High Noon, Our Town (with Paul Newman - and Grant reminds us he's from Shaker Heights.)
• Pearls - we want them to come back.
• There is a Macbook sale at Costco
• You can get deals on next year's streaming services for Black Friday, which unfortunately is already past.  Maybe still available?
•  Friday Night Lights to reboot soon.  Connie! Her hair!
• When do boys have awareness?  Around 40 was the consensus.
• Why does the text chain for the group have a chili pepper identifier 🌶?

Photos:  Amigas siempre, Olde Allegheny Garden, Loving the Aviary with Tracy, Mitten Found, Decor.

December 15 Run/Walk: Meet at Yinz Coffee, 2 East North Avenue, Pittsburgh 15212

We all fit into the beautiful back area at Big Dog Coffee, moved quickly past Trump's odious cabinet and staff nominees and got down to important business:

For instance, the upcoming holidays.  What do we get the new girlfriend -- well, actually, the girlfriend who's been around for eight months.

    Socks, mittens, candles.

    Mostly socks.

    And if they're moving in together?

    "Nice socks.  Like Bombas."

Or a little traveling jewelry box, something girlie and personal but not too personal.

Or, for a young man, a card holder, bearing in mind that it's impossible to interpret what goes on in the brain of a 20-something boy.

A resounding "no":  

(A Christmas gift for your therapist.)

A responding "Absolved!"

(To Janet, who used Cliff Notes instead of reading A Tale of Two Cities.)

Winner of the Good Neighbor Award:

Endorsements:

For socks that last forever    Bombas  

For computer repair, or if you need to have your passport or identity verified.  Even the state department trusts Kevin's Computers  

Dor sound equipment purchase or repairs.  "That place above Jerry's."  Galaxie Electronics

A Christmas Memory - by Truman Capote

This writer will miss Yinz Coffee and Yinz walkers & runners until 20025. Cheers to everyone!

 

December 8 walk/run at Big Dog Coffee Shop, 2717 Sarah Street

We're meeting at Big Dog Coffee Shop, with its wonderful back room.  If they can't accommodate us post run/walk we'll check out the diner across the street.

Last week we said hello again to Bloomfield, where we got to see bright murals and the childhood homes of Beth's Paul.  Trace Brewery was closed so we convened at Ineffable Cà Phê, which is described on its website as being "too great to be described in words."  

Way more ineffable, at least to me, was getting to see, or to meet for the first time, Elaine's Beth.

Beth is a big fan of "Love is Blind," which features pods of "ridiculously good-looking single people in the US, UK, Argentina, Dubai, and... elsewhere.  

And while we're recommending TV shows, catch "Somebody Somewhere," in its last season.

And "Outlander," that perennial favorite.

And Gretchen, another perennial favorite.  THIS WEEKEND ONLY.  Read below.

Then come home and consider taking a trip to the Outer Banks, (North Carolina), Vieques, (Puerto Rico), and Berlin.